Shloka 35
मातापितृपूजन-प्रधानधर्मः (Primacy of Filial Service) — Mārkaṇḍeya’s Account of the Vyādha’s Instruction
वरं वृणीष्वेत्युक्त: स प्राउ्जलि: प्रणतस्तदा । अतीव मुदितो राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत्,तदनन्तर महर्षियोंसहित सम्पूर्ण देवता प्रसन्न होकर वहाँ आये और राजासे वर माँगनेका अनुरोध करने लगे। राजन्! उनकी बात सुनकर कुवलाश्व अत्यन्त प्रसन्न हुए और हाथ जोड़ मस्तक झुकाकर इस प्रकार बोले--
varaṁ vṛṇīṣvety uktaḥ sa prāñjaliḥ praṇatas tadā | atīva mudito rājann idaṁ vacanam abravīt ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “When he was told, ‘Choose a boon,’ the king—hands joined in reverence and bowing low—became exceedingly delighted and spoke these words.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
When divine or saintly beings offer favor, the dharmic response is humility and gratitude rather than entitlement. The king’s joined palms and bowed head model reverence, self-restraint, and ethical readiness before receiving power or gifts.
Pleased sages and gods arrive and invite King Kuvalāśva to choose a boon. Overjoyed, he stands with folded hands, bows respectfully, and begins to reply—setting up the content of his request in the following verses.